We’ll Meet Again – A Musical – Inspired by a True Story

Jun 21, 2026 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By The Jewish Voice and Opinion Staff

We’ll Meet Again, at the Bell Theater through June 28, is a musical recognizing 1940s America as a melting pot where people of all races and religions are welcome. It is inspired by the true story of Henry Stern, a Jewish boy who escaped Nazi Germany in 1937 and found a home in Opelika, Alabama. The self-proclaimed “Jewish Redneck” with a distinct Southern accent, served in the U.S. Navy, and became a pillar of the community. In the show, Henry shares his story with a young North Carolina journalist, which begins with a young boy in Germany and ends in the present, as an old man who spent the last 50 years searching for family.

The message is appropriate for the 250th anniversary of America’s freedom. According to Andrew DePrisco, the Executive Artistic Director of the Axelrod Performing Arts Center, “It reminds us of the importance of human kindness and the hope for a better America”. It shows Lady Liberty as a beacon lighting the way, guiding people away from oppression, tyranny, and fear toward a future built on hope and freedom, where families like the Sterns could live openly, safely, and freely.

The Show

Set in a vintage 1940s diner, We’ll Meet Again is structured as two parallel conversations. On stage left, a young reporter is interviewing an old Henry (an amazing performance by Herndon Lackey), prompting memories that are performed on stage right. The music takes him back, as the audience is transported to the 1940s small-town USA, filled with hope, high school romances, and a wholesome community. The entire town welcome the Stern family at the train. The Opelika community was intrigued by the refugees and helped them acclimate to their new country.

Life in Germany is contrasted to that of Alabama. Gatherings around a bonfire instead of dancing to swing and jazz music played on the jukebox. The optimism in the USA, versus the fear and oppression in Germany, where proud German citizens were being persecuted and rejected by their homeland.

The historic perspective shows a naive, innocent USA, where boys willingly went to war while women like Rosie the Riveter filled their jobs and mourned their deaths. Communities like Opelika have a way of healing, as unwed mothers begin new lives in neighboring states, while refugees, like Henry, adjust to life in America and assimilate into the community.

A medley interweaving Ma’Oz Tzur (traditional Chanukah song) with Silent Night (performed in English and German) reinforces this culture of small-town belonging.

The music brought the story together, with the most memorable moment the rendition of Avenu Malkenu by Oma (grandmother, performed by Joy Hermalyn), an emotional plea to God for compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.

Based on a True Story

We’ll Meet Again was written by James R. “Jim” Harris. A lawyer by trade and a friend of Henry’s, who discovered Henry’s hidden past after reading a paper written by a local student that revealed his as a refugee. Harris interviewed Henry to preserve the historical accuracy and share his story. Harris collaborated with composer Mark Hayes to structure the narrative around iconic period music, including “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.

Harris captures the essence of Henry’s story. In 1935, Julius Solomon Hagedorn (played by Adam B. Shapiro) traveled to Germany from Opelika, Alabama, to encourage the family to immigrate to the US. Julius used his political connections to help them get visas and an affidavit of support. Because of the restrictions on leaving Germany, it took Henry’s father (Noah Yager) two years to liquidate their assets to pay the German exit taxes.

In June 1937, five-year-old Henry, his sister, parents, maternal grandmother, and great-uncle boarded the SS Washington to New York. They were on the last civilian ship carrying Jews from Germany. Family members left behind perished in the Holocaust. Stern’s past followed them to Alabama, when a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp was built in Opelika, just down the road from Henry’s house.

Uplifting Uniquely American Story

The acting and vocals were exceptional, telling a compelling family story. We’ll Meet Again is not a typical Holocaust story. The plot adds a uniquely American element, infusing the music and dance with the Southern hospitality. As the name implies, we watch as the characters’ lives interconnect over time.

We’ll Meet Again underscores the unpredictability of life and offers a prayer for mankind’s ability to forgive but not forget. Some might be saddened that Henry’s family was no longer observant. But he maintained a strong connection with his past through a devotion to his family and Holocaust awareness. Henry comments that no one knows the names of any of the six million who perished in the camps. This show brings those souls to life.

We’ll Meet Again is a must-see production, which we hope continues to NYC and beyond.

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We’ll Meet Again at Bell Theater through June 28

Running Time: 2 Hours (with a 15-minute intermission)